Retractable trash container tether

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a light weight trash container having a retractable tether line and anchor. The tether has opposite first and second ends, a first tether mounting element provided on the first end and a second tether mounting element provided on the second end, the first tether mounting element adapted and configured to releaseably mount to the trash container. The tethered trash container further including an anchor releasably mountable to the second tether mounting element. The tether further includes a spring loaded reel mounted in a housing for retracting the tether by winding the tether onto the reel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to tethers for tethering trash containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The taking out of the trash is a weekly occurrence in most parts of the world. Each home is usually provided with one or more trash containers which are used to store refuse, garbage and the like (trash) until the weekly garbage collection day. On the morning of the collection day (or the night previous), these trash containers are placed on the street curb in front of the house for pick up by municipal trash collectors. On the appointed trash collection day, the municipal trash collectors attend at the house to pick up the trash containers and empty the containers' contents into a garbage truck. The emptied trash containers are then left at the curb in front of the house.

Traditionally, trash containers have been made of galvanized steel. When fully loaded with trash, these steel containers, or trash cans, were quite heavy and difficult to carry about. Furthermore, steel trash cans tended to dent and rust as well as make a great deal of noise when thrown about. As a result, steel trash cans were eventually replaced by trash containers made of plastic. As molding technology improved, these plastic containers have become quite light, resulting in large trash containers which often weigh no more than a few kilograms. While these newer light weigh trash containers are an improvement over their steel predecessors, they do suffer from one serious drawback. These light weight plastic trash containers have a tendency to blow away when they are empty. Due to their light weight, even relatively modest winds can cause these new trash containers to blow away. A solution to this problem which does not involve weighing down the light weight trash cans, is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a tethered trash container including a light weight trash container having a first mounting element. A retractable tether is releasably mounted to the trash container, the tether having opposite first and second ends, a first tether mounting element provided on the first end and a second tether mounting element provided on the second end, the first tether mounting element adapted and configured to releaseably mount to the first mounting element. The tethered trash container further including an anchor releasably mountable to the second tether mounting element.

With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is a side view of a tethered trash can made in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2. is a side view of a retractable tether portion of the present invention.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring firstly to FIG. 1, a tethered trash can system made in accordance with the present invention is shown generally as item 10 and includes a light weight trash can 12 releasably mounted to a retractable tether 16 which is in turn releasably mounted to anchor 14. Tether 16 includes a long tether line 18 which is releasably mounted to trash can 12 via first tether mounting element 22. Long tether 18 is wound onto spring loaded retracting reel 20 which is mounted in a housing. Reel 20 is releasably mounted to anchor 14 via second tether mounting element 24. Spring loaded reel 20 is adapted and configured to apply a retracting force onto tether line 18. The retracting force is selected to be strong enough to keep tether 18 taught, but not so strong as to interfere with the moving of trash can 12 by the user. It has been discovered that a retracting force of between 1 to 5 Kg is sufficient to keep the long tether from going slack while still permitting unencumbered movement of the trash can. Tether 18 should be sufficiently long to permit the user to move trash can 12 to the garbage truck (not shown) without difficulty. It has been discovered that an 16 foot length is generally required for tether 18 to permit the easy emptying of the trash can.

Referring now to FIG. 2, tether 16 includes a spring loaded reel mechanism 20. Mechanism 20 includes housing 26, reel 28 and spring hub mechanism 30. Tether line 18 is wound onto reel 28. Spring hub mechanism 30 is adapted and configured to keep tether line 18 wound onto reel 28 until line 18 is pulled off the reel by a force of at least about 1 kg. First tether mounting element 22 is mounted onto the end of tether 18. Mounting element 22 preferably comprises a spring loaded clip as shown, although other quick release clips or mounting elements may be used. Second mounting element 24 is mounted to housing 26. Mounting element 24 is preferably a spring loaded clip; however, other quick release clips may be used.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the principle advantage of the present invention is its ability to neatly keep trash can 12 from blowing away after the can has been emptied. With a retracting force of less than about 5 kg and a tether length of at least 16 feet, it is easy for a municipal garbage disposal worker to carry the trash can to the garbage truck and dump out the trash in the can. The continuous retracting force applied by reel mechanism 20 keeps tether 18 taught. A tether line which is continuously kept taught is necessary since it prevents the tether from going slack and posing a tripping hazard for the worker. Furthermore, after the trash can is returned to the curb after emptying, the taught tether prevents pedestrians and the like from tripping on the tether. In the event a strong wind impinges on trash can 12, tether 18 will prevent the can from blowing away. In most cases, even a relatively weak retracting force acting on the tether will prevent the trash can from drawing much line from reel mechanism 20 in all but the strongest winds.

The optimal retracting force and tether length was determined using the following methodology.

To determine the optimal tether length, an investigation was done into how far on average does a garbage/recycling truck stop from the center most point of where a container is set out for pick up. A simulation was run to measure the distance in feet on average from where the rear of a garbage truck is upon stopping, from where a garbage/recycling container is placed, to determine the optimum length of the tether. This was done by placing a garbage/recycling container in the same place in three different locations in front of a residential property on a designated garbage pick up day, to determine the average distance, in feet, from the center most point of the container to the center most point of the garbage truck bumper. This was done by marking on the grass in front of the residential property a consistent starting point for the container and chalking under the center of the middle of the bumper after a garbage truck had come to a complete stop to pick up the container. All numbers rounded up.

-   -   Stopping distance in feet at location (1): 6, 8, 5, 7, 10, 11,         7, 8, 14*, 8     -   *Car parked in front of curb     -   Average stopping distance: 8.4′     -   Stopping distance in feet at location (2): 9, 12, 6, 6, 8, 9,         10, 5, 7, 9     -   Average stopping distance: 8.1′     -   Stopping distance in feet at location (3): 11, 8, 9, N/A, 10,         11, 7, 10, 9, 9     -   Average stopping distance: 9.33′     -   Total average stopping distance all locations: 8.61′         It was discovered that 8.61′ was the average stopping distance         with 14 being the highest distance due to a car being stopped in         front of the property and impeding workers. Keeping this in mind         a 16′ tether must be used to error on the conservative side to         keep from prohibiting worker from making two trips from curb.         This will also eliminate worker from pulling anchor out and         risking product failure or potential worker injury.

To determine the optimum retraction force that can be used on the garbage/recycle container tether without impeding unrestricted performance the following tests were conducted. A time study was designed to measure the simulated performance of a garbage man's duties (i.e. picking up a loaded and tethered garbage can and dumping it) with various retraction forces. The garbage container was set at a start location and a dump location for dumping out the contents of the container was placed 8.61′ away from the start location (corresponding to the average distance found from the container to the center of rear bumper). Then 25 lbs of bagged weight was placed into the container to simulate a load of garbage. Subject started 8.61′ feet away walked to the container and returned to the dumping point to dump. Then walked back to place the container where he found it. Upon placing the container back returned to the starting line to start over again while weight was added back in. Subject was timed for five minutes and had to complete a full cycle in order for it to count in the recording. Test was ran with no retraction force, 5 kg retraction force, and 10 kg retraction force three times each.

Total containers emptied without any retraction force: Test (1) 18 times Test (2) 17 times Test (3) 20 times

Average containers dumped without retraction force 18.33

Total Containers emptied with 5 kg retraction force: Test (4) 17 times Test (5) 19 times Test (6) 18 times

Average containers dumped with 5 kg retraction force 18.00

Total containers emptied with 10 kg retraction force: Test (7) 17 times Test (8) 15 times Test (9) 15 times

Average containers dumped with 10 kg retraction force 15.66

It was found that a retraction force of less than 5 kg resulted in almost an identical performance over the time period than the test with no added retraction force. A retraction force of 10 kg resulted in a 15% drop in performance from no added retraction force thus making the amount of retraction force undesirable.

A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed; however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could be envisioned as within the scope of this invention. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A trash container comprising: a a light weight trash container; b a retractable tether having opposite first and second ends, a first tether mounting element provided on the first end and a second tether mounting element provided on the second end, the first tether mounting element adapted and configured to releaseably mount to the trash container, and c an anchor releasably mountable to the second tether mounting element.
 2. The trash container of claim 1 wherein the retractable tether further includes a long tether line, a spring loaded reel mounted in a housing for substantially fully retracting the long tether line onto the reel, the first tether mounting element being mounted to the long tether line, the second mounting element being mounted to the housing.
 3. The trash container of claim 2 wherein the long tether line is at least approximately 16 feet long.
 4. The trash container of claim 2 wherein the spring loaded reel is adapted and configured to exert a continuous retracting force on the long tether line of less than 5 kilograms.
 5. The trash container of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises a ground spike.
 6. The trash container of claim 5 wherein the ground spike is a screw type ground spike.
 7. A retractable tether for tethering a light weight trash container to an anchor comprising: a a long tether line wound on a spring loaded reel mounted in a housing, the long tether line having a first mounting element configured to be releasably mounted to the trash container, the spring loaded reel being dimensioned and configured to retract substantially the whole of the long tether line onto the reel, and b a second tether mounting element mounted to the housing for releasably mounting to the anchor.
 8. The retractable tether of claim 7 wherein the long tether line is at least approximately 16 feet long.
 9. The trash container of claim 7 wherein the spring loaded reel is adapted and configured to exert a continuous retracting force on the long tether line of less than 5 kilograms. 